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Politics

Towards a lawsuit against AU?

12-26-2016 President Pierre Nkurunziza announced prosecutions against the African Union in compensation for Burundian troops in Somalia. Written by Agnès Ndirubusa and Christian Bigirimana. Translated by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana “Burundians have got a gift, that of engaging in legal proceedings and not letting go of the case”, said President Pierre (...)
Economy

2017 spells austerity woes

12-24-2016 Domitien Ndihokubwayo, Burundi’s finance minister presented a draw law outlining a number of austerity measures to the National Assembly on 22 December for 2017. Parliamentarians then discussed the austerity policy. The new budget was eventually voted in by 11O MPs out of the 111. 2017 will be characterised by (...)
Economy

New austerity measures will target most vulnerable, NGOs say

12-24-2016 Two NGOs have decried a series of austerity measures the government of Burundi has adopted in its 2017 budget. The austerity measures are aimed at trying to remain on two feet in the face of a faltering national economy, mainly due to cuts of foreign sponsors on which it (...)
Politics

Government extends ethnic quotas to non-governmental organisations

12-24-2016 On 23 December, the National Assembly adopted a draft law amending the general framework of cooperation between the Government of Burundi and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Article 18 (4) of the draft law stipulates that the recruitment of local staff must be carried out in accordance with the ethnic (...)
Economy

National Assembly calls for revision of “Zero State’s fleet of vehicles policy”

12-22-2016 In a commentary on the 2017 budget presented by the president of the general accounting office on 21 December in the National Assembly, different MPs proposed the review of the policy to reduce state owned vehicles (Charroi Zero). BIF 2.4 bn have been proposed to be used in the (...)
Security

Burundi Security Ministry satisfied with its 2016 achievements

12-22-2016 While presenting the annual report of activities carried out by the Ministry of Public Security on 21 December, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, Minister of Public Security said the year 2016 was characterized by heightened security throughout the country. He, however, evoked some cases of assassinations, enforced disappearances and armed attacks (...)
Security

Burundi defence ministry hopeful for 2017

12-21-2016 “We have accomplished much and there are many more activities to do next year”, said Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye, the Defense Minister as he presented his ministry’s accomplishments for this year and plans for 2017. He said that among the many plans the ministry has, it will work towards the creation (...)
Society

Over 500 families kicked out of their homes in Buringa

12-21-2016 More than 500 families from Kagaragara locality of Buringa Commune in Bubanza western province of Burundi have been forcibly moved from their homes. They are all camping out around Buringa zone office. They say no one is helping them and call on Burundian authorities to bring them back to (...)
Economy

Two local watchdogs do not welcome the rise in electricity price

12-20-2016 The Burundian Association of Consumers-ABUCO and the Center for Fight against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement- OLUCOME say they are not pleased with the decision by the public company in charge of supplying water and electricity-REGIDESO to increase the price of electricity. ABUCO says the decision comes to worsen the (...)
Telecom

Metropolitan Area Network launched in Capital Bujumbura

12-20-2016 Alongside the official inauguration of digital television, Burundi President, Pierre Nkurunziza, has introduced the optical fibre Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) on this 19 December 2016. The event marked an important step towards the increase of the penetration of information and communication technologies that Nestor Bankumukunzi, the Minister in charge (...)